Plans for Festival Days closing in on opening day

The executive director of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce said planning for this year’s Festival Days, which starts Friday next week, is nearly complete, and she invited people from the region to come participate in the parade Saturday, Sept. 16.

Jody Olson, who took over as director in June as Debbie Vandeberg retired after more than two decades as Chamber director, said things are going well in setting up her first Festival Days, with some additions in the events including some tweaks in the parade, always a highpoint of the festival.

Olson said she has invited people from surrounding communities to participate in the event, including Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Indian reservations and Chinook and other local towns.

She also is having a grand marshal to lead the parade down Fifth Avenue.

Olson said Havre’s Mrs. Montana Tana Johnson will lead the parade, in a car driven by her husband, Brian.

She said people who want to participate in the parade can sign up at the Chamber office at 130 Fifth Ave. right through the day before the parade.